DEMPSTER PROVED BEST BAT OF SIDE

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3614, 15 September 1927, Page 7

DEMPSTER PROVED BEST BAT OF SIDE

James’ Wicket-Keeping Of First-Class Order

MANAGER HAY SUMS UP

TOUR

tßy Eleitrlo Cable-Copyright] fAust. and N.Z. Cable Association.; (Received Wednesday, 7.45 p.m.)

LONDON, Sept. .14,

Mr. Hay summing up the cricket tour says: “Despite a wet summercausing wickets to which we are unaccustomed it has been a splendid experience. Wo began with one or two bat-men able to face soft pitches. We now have six or seven.

: “Dempster on all wickets was the best bat of the side closely followed by five others. Proof of their worth is that they topped the thousand whereas an average of four batsmen In each County side with numerous opportunities got a thousand.

“Merritt 'was the mainstay of the bowling. We sadly lacked a good length, Stock bowler, Allcott was obviously chosen for that purpose, but : u foot injury prevented his maintaining consistency, though he often |had impressive periods. “Cunningham our best fast bowler In Australia failed to And a consist-ent-length.

, “Indeed but for Merritt’s staunch work the side would have been in serious .trouble.

“McGlrr, Henderson and Bernau were periodically good. i “In. the. circumstances Lowry most skilfully manipulated the slow bowling getting out good sides for moderate scores. Blunt was the best early but after that was unreliable in lengthy but. he was always respected.

James’ wicket-keeping improved beyond belief-and he has won the highest praise.” Th'o team was delighted to receive Mr Coates’ congratulations. The team was also very pleased with Mr. Peake’s comllmenting Hay and Lowry which they consider was well deserved. Lowry who previously decided to stay in England is now returning with the team, which spends two days in Paris on the eve of sailing from Toulon on September 24. It is proposed to disembark at Melbourne for a day’s practice before going to Sydney. Wilson, Newman, Bowley, Langridge and Eastman are sailing by the "Corinthlc” on September 16 to AH coaching engagements. Mr. Hay in a subsequent press interview declared it could truthfully be said the New Zealanders did not tackle the cricket game in the thorough manner they tackled football. Every young New Zealander hoped some day to bo a good lootballer. It is not the same with cricket. But the tour would do much to cure that. In many, schools there was little attention given to cricket Often there was no master able to show a boy how to hold a bat. Anything in the nature of a good pitch was exceptional. i LEVESON-GOWEB EULOGISES JJELIGHTPUL BATTING OP N.Z, TEAM. LOSS EXAGGERATED. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The following cable has been received from Mr. Douglas Hay, Manager of the New Zealand cricket team ;o-day: “Mr Leveson-Gower in a speech at Scarborough to-day said the New Zealanders’ visit during tho festival had been a delightful success. Their free batting gave infinite pleasure. There was little doubt in hi s mind that on their next tour in England their claim to test matches must bo seriously considered. In any event they , will certainly always be a leading feature in the Scarboro’ festival.” Mr J. F. Peake, honorary secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council thinks the amount £IO,OOO mentioned in the cable as the probable loss on the tour is greatly He states that from cabled reports of attendances it has been estimated by the Council that the loss on the tour would be from £4OOO to £SOOO. It is hoped this will be considerably reduced from the four days’ match in Sydney from which New Zealand will get 90 per cent, of the gate. There should also be a substantial profit from the two matches in New Zealand and the final loss should not he more than a quarter of £IO,OOO. HOUR FULL RAYS AND PART OP FIFTH. SHEFFIELD SHIELD GAMES. (Received Wednesday, 10.3 p.ra.) SYDNEY, Sept. 14. Tho Inter-State conference of rrlcket delegates from the Sheffield Shield States decided that Sheffield matches bo limited to four full days and portion of the fifth. The recommendation that the

wicket should not be covered and protected against rain was negatived. DEMPSTER TOPS BATTING AVERAGES. DACBE THE BOWLING. (Received Wednesday, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 13.

Tho official averages of the New Zealand cricketers for first-class matches arc as follow :

Batting In. N.O. H.S. Euns. Av.. Dempster 37 5 180 1430 44.6>’ Blunt 38 3 131 1540 44.00 Lowry .. .. 37 4 106 1277 38.69 Mills 39 6 152 1251 37.90 Pago 3G 3 140 1154 34.90 Dacro .... 34 — 176 1070 31.47 Allcott ,. ,, 26 4 131 644 29.27 Merritt ,. .. 33 13 50* 538 26.90 McGirr .. .. 30 I 73 737 25.41 James .. .. 30 5 44 411 16.44 Oliver .. .. 17 3 30 213 15.21 Cunningham . 8 3 23 62 12.40 Henderson .. 14 5 30 98 10.88 Bernau .. .. 20 1 34* 203 10.68 * Not out. Bowling. - 0. Runs. Wkts. Av. Caere .. .. ., 50 133 8 16.62 Dempster .. 31 104 6 17.33 Pago .. .. 498 23 21.65 Bernau .. ,. 775 32 23.21 Merritt .. . . 768.2 2530 107 23.64 Henderson ., .. 273.5 799 33 24.21 Allcott .. ., 810 34 24.70 Blunt .. .. 78 24.97 McGirr .. .. ., 483 1356 49 27.67 Lowry ., .. 450 15 30.00 Cunningham .. 75 265 5 53.00 Also bowled : — Mills 12 1 12.00 Oliver , • .. 84 1 84.00